Great Wine: Ridge Lytton Springs

Price Range: $35–40

Ready to Drink: 3 years after bottle vintage

Region: Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma, California

A wine that speaks with as distinctive a voice as Vin Scully calling a Dodger game. Are there many more things as American as that? Truly, as characterful and engaging a proprietary Sonoma blend that you’ll ever find—the 2015 is a makeup of 74% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, 8% Carignane and 2% Mourvedre, all from the Dry Creek Valley. And no problem finding this wine, as RIDGE is at once ubiquitous and also one of the most iconic Sonoma wineries, and their Lytton Springs red blend so marvelously priced for such very classy stuff.

It begins with an effulgent nose of black pepper, blackberry, dark plum and black olive. Once it coats the palate, fig and dark chocolate notes emerge… just delish. The wine’s balance is fantastic, so key to going the full nine innings. There’s complex richness but also fine, dusty tannins and elegant structure. The finish is succulently lengthy, riding on the gentle acidity of dark cherries. Not a weak spot in the dugout, and the talent runs deep. What a masterful blend. Sonoma red wine’s winning version of moneyball. –J.M.